Intimacy with God; Seeking Him with All Our Heart

Unlocking the Secret to Intimacy with God

Are you looking to develop a deeper relationship with God and deepen your spiritual journey? Intimacy with God is a process of seeking Him with all your heart. It is about developing a relationship with the Lord and allowing Him to be your closest friend. This article will provide insight into the process of seeking intimacy with God and offer some practical steps you can take to get closer to Him as we embark in a new season of 2023. It is a time for us as Christians to receive God's Word for ourselves, for our community and even for our nation. It is a time for us to listen to His voice and prophetic calling-to be a part of what He is doing in this new season.

1 Corinthians 14:1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy."

In this new season of 2023, God is calling us to come before Him and seek Him with all of our hearts. He wants us to make Him the center of our lives, dedicating time each day to prayer, to read the Bible, and to take part in worship and praise. Let us bring Jesus before us and the world by enthroning Him in our hearts and minds, honoring Him with reverence and gratitude, and granting Him His rightful place of authority in our lives.

As we make God our priority and seek Him, He will be found by us. He is calling us to embrace Matthew 6:33 and “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Through this pursuit of our Lord, we will gain wisdom, understanding, and direction for our lives.

What does it mean to have an intimate relationship with God?

Having an intimate relationship with God is more than just being a believer; it is about deepening your understanding of His character and drawing close to Him, allowing Him to lead and direct your life. It is about developing trust in Him and embracing a life of faith.

Having an intimate relationship with God is a journey of ongoing learning and growth, and the blessings it brings are invaluable. In 2023, God is calling us to draw close to Him, making Him the center of our lives and dedicating time each day to prayer, to reading His Word, and to worship and praise. Psalm 22:3 states, “But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” As we come before Him with gratitude, Jesus will be enthroned in our hearts and minds, granting Him His rightful place of authority in our lives.

We can also take Matthew 6:33 to heart, which tells us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Through our ongoing pursuit of God, we will gain wisdom, knowledge, and an understanding of His will for us. Further, we can look to the Bible for strength and clarity for our paths. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the Lord will illuminate our paths and fill us with His presence and power.

We can honor God by worshiping and praising Him. Our praises will reach the Lord and He will be enthroned in our souls, giving us great power and victory. As we seek Him in 2023, let us come before Him with reverence and joy, and allow Him to guide and bless us in tremendous ways.

How does spending time in prayer increase intimacy with God?

Prayer is a personal and powerful means of communicating with your Creator. It provides a space for you to connect with the divine, share your heart and soul, and receive guidance, love, and wisdom. When you pray, you can deepen your relationship with God and feel inspired to live life to the fullest.

Jesus, the son of God, taught the significance of prayer and showed us how to pray through His teachings on the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), the model prayer of faith (Mark 11:20-26), and persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8). These teachings offer a blueprint for approaching God in prayer and developing a more intimate relationship with Him.

Mark 11:20-26 (NLT): "In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

For instance, the Lord's Prayer is a simple yet profound way to talk to your Maker, guiding you to approach God with reverence and humility. The model prayer of faith demonstrates the power of confident and persistent prayer, reminding you that anything is possible if you believe. And Jesus' teachings on persistence in prayer inspire you to keep asking, seeking, and knocking until you receive an answer from heaven.

Daniel was a faithful servant of God who lived in Babylon during a time of great persecution for the people of God. Despite the danger, Daniel continued to pray and seek the Lord three times a day. He set aside all distractions and focused solely on God, pouring out his heart in prayer.

His intimate time in prayer with God allowed Daniel to experience powerful revelations and to receive guidance and direction from the Lord. It also allowed him to remain steadfast in his faith, even in the face of persecution, and to demonstrate the power of God to those around him. In essence, by spending time in prayer, Daniel was able to increase his intimacy with God by opening himself up to Him, expressing his feelings, listening to His voice, and growing in his understanding of His love.

Prayer helps us become more cognizant of God's presence in our lives and acknowledge our dependence on Him. By praying with intention and persistence, we can deepen our relationship with God and experience a level of intimacy that will uplift and sustain us throughout our journey. Just as Daniel did, we too can set aside distractions and focus solely on God in prayer, growing closer to Him and experiencing His love and guidance in our lives.

What is the importance of worship in deepening intimacy with God?

Worship is a crucial aspect of our relationship with God, as it allows us to express our love and devotion to Him. Through worship, we can connect with God on a deeper level and experience His presence in a tangible way. In this blog, we'll explore the importance of worship in deepening our intimacy with God, and how we can use it to enrich our relationship with Him.

David who understood the importance of worship in deepening intimacy with God. David, a shepherd boy turned King, wrote many psalms, including Psalm 63 where he expresses his deep longing for God, saying "Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name." Through his worship, David was able to deepen his relationship with God and experience His presence in a tangible way.

Expressing Gratitude and Thankfulness

Worship allows us to express our gratitude and thankfulness to God for all that He has done for us. We can sing hymns of praise, offer prayers, and meditate on His goodness, faithfulness, and promises. When we focus on God's attributes, our hearts and minds are opened to Him, and we experience His presence in a new and meaningful way.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, who worshiped God through her song of praise, known as the Magnificat, recorded in Luke 1:46-55. Mary's worship was a reflection of her deep faith in God and her gratitude for His blessings in her life. As she worshiped, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and her intimacy with God was strengthened.

Setting Aside Distractions

In our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our responsibilities and distractions. Worship provides us with an opportunity to set aside our distractions and focus solely on God. It's a time to quiet our minds and hearts, and to allow God to speak to us and lead us in our lives.

The story of Elijah on Mount Carmel highlights the significance of focusing on God and setting aside distractions to deepen our intimacy with Him. Elijah, a prophet of God, faced opposition from false gods worshiped in the land and organized a public showdown to demonstrate the power of the true God. He withdrew to the top of Mount Carmel to pray, setting aside all distractions and focusing solely on God. Elijah asked for God's presence to be made known, and a fire descended from heaven and consumed his offering, demonstrating the power of the true God.

The act of God caused the people to fall to their knees and declare that the Lord was truly the one and only God. The story of Elijah teaches us the importance of seeking God's presence and listening for His voice. When we set aside our distractions and focus on Him, He will reveal His power and might in our lives, just as Elijah experienced. This story serves as a powerful reminder to seek God's presence and focus on Him in our quest for deeper intimacy with Him.

Intentional Prayer and Speaking Truth

Worship also allows us to be intentional in our prayers and to speak truth into our lives. As we worship, we can focus on God's Word, and allow it to penetrate our hearts and minds. When we pray and speak truth in worship, we open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit, who transforms us and deepens our intimacy with God.

Just like David and Mary, when we worship, we have the opportunity to connect with God on a deeper level and experience His love and presence in our lives. As we read in John 4:24, "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." When we worship in spirit and truth, we open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to transform us and deepen our intimacy with God.

So let us worship God with all our hearts, minds, and souls, for He is deserving of all our praise. Let us deepen our intimacy with Him and experience His love, presence, and blessings in our lives.

How can reading the Bible help me to build a closer relationship with God?

One powerful example of how reading the Bible can help us to build a closer relationship with God can be found in the story of the prodigal son, found in the Gospel according to Luke 15:11-32. This parable tells the story of a young man who left his home to seek a life of pleasure. But after squandering all of his father's money and struggling to survive, the young man realized his mistakes and decided to return home to his father. The father welcomed his son with open arms and showed him a tremendous amount of love, forgiveness, and mercy.

Luke 15:17-20 (NLT) “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.”

This story of unconditional love, forgiveness, and restoration is a beautiful reminder of the way in which God loves and forgives us no matter how far we have strayed. It serves as an encouraging reminder that we can always turn to God, no matter the circumstances, and receive His unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness. Reading this story can be a great reminder of God's character and of the many promises He has made us, and can help us to build a stronger connection with Him.

The Bible is full of powerful stories and verses that can help us to gain a better understanding of God’s character and of what it means to be one of His children. By taking the time to read the Bible, we can get to know God better and gain a clearer understanding of His promises for our lives, allowing us to develop a closer relationship with Him.

Reading the Bible can be an excellent way to build a stronger connection with God and to grow in your faith. By taking the time to read the Bible, we can get to know God more deeply and become more familiar with His Word. Through reading the Bible we can learn more about God's character, His promises, and His will for our lives. We can also gain a better understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ and of how to live a life that is pleasing to God. Finally, by reading the Bible and praying, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with God and receive the guidance and comfort that He provides.

A Prayer for Intimacy with God in the New Season of 2023

Dear Lord,

As we enter this new season of 2023, we pray that You will guide us in our spiritual journey and help us develop a deeper relationship with You. We seek to make You the center of our lives, dedicating time each day to prayer, to reading Your Word, and to worship and praise. Help us to enthrone You in our hearts and minds and grant You Your rightful place of authority in our lives.

We ask for Your wisdom and understanding as we pursue Your kingdom and righteousness, trusting in Your promise that all things will be given to us as well. Fill us with Your presence and power as we immerse ourselves in Your Word and seek Your will for our lives.

We honor You by worshiping and praising You, knowing that our praises will reach You and enthrone You in our souls, giving us great power and victory. Lead and bless us in tremendous ways as we come before You with reverence and joy.

We thank You for the power of prayer and the opportunity to deepen our relationship with You through communication with You. Help us to approach You with reverence and humility, confident and persistent in prayer, listening to Your voice and growing in our understanding of Your love.

We also acknowledge the importance of worship in deepening our intimacy with You, Lord. May we worship You with all our hearts and minds, giving You the honor and praise You deserve.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Timothy Tomlinson

Healing The Brokenhearted

10 facts about the text given to you: Unlocking the Secret to Intimacy with God by Pastor Timothy Tomlinson

The author, Pastor Timothy Tomlinson, is writing about developing a deeper relationship with God.
Intimacy with God is a process of seeking Him with all your heart and developing a relationship with the Lord.
The author provides practical steps to get closer to God in a new season of 2023.
God is calling believers to come before Him and seek Him with all of their hearts, making Him the center of their lives.
Intimacy with God is more than just being a believer; it is about deepening your understanding of His character and drawing close to Him.
This journey of intimacy is an ongoing learning and growth experience that brings invaluable blessings.
Prayer is a powerful means of communication with God and helps deepen the relationship.
The Lord's Prayer, model prayer of faith, and persistence in prayer are all taught by Jesus and provide a blueprint for approaching God in prayer.
Spending time in prayer, like Daniel, can increase intimacy with God by opening up to Him, expressing feelings, listening to His voice, and growing in understanding of His love.
Praying with intention and persistence deepens the relationship with God and allows one to experience a level of intimacy that uplifts and sustains them on their journey.

Scriptures used for Intimacy with God

Matthew 6:33 (NLT): "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

Psalm 22:3 (NLT): "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel."

Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT): "This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT): "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about people. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about people, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Luke 15:11-32 (NLT): "Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

John 4:24 (NLT) says, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

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The recognition of Jesus as our judge can bring about a greater degree of closeness with God by way of fostering accountability and submission to His will. When we perceive Jesus as the assessor of our behaviors, thoughts, and desires, it motivates us to uphold a more righteous lifestyle pleasing to Him. Consequently, this allows us to acquire a better grasp of His character, attributes, and wishes, developing a stronger relationship with Him.

For instance, in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus is portrayed as the judge of the nations, determining who is faithful and who are not. This Scripture reminds us that at the end, Jesus will assess our worthiness based on how we interacted with others. This realization should motivate us to act in concordance with His love and mercy and to deepen our relationship with Him through submission and devotion.

In addition, recognizing Jesus as our judge can also lead to a deeper connection with God by means of humility and surrender. When we become aware of our own constraints and recognize our need for divine forgiveness and counsel, it paves the way for a closer and more meaningful relationship. This is evident in the parable of the publican in Luke 18:13-14, whose supplications illustrate acceptance of his own sinfulness and trust in a sovereign and just judge.

To conclude, Jesus as a judge can bring about a more intimate relationship with God through bringing into focus his justice, surrender, loyalty, reverence, modesty, and knowledge of His nature.

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